St. Petersburg, Fla. (January 13, 2006)  St. Petersburg is the proud host to one of the largest Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday parades in the nation, Monday, January 16. During this year’s 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice National Parade, city traffic officials will make every effort to minimize inconvenience to motorists, however, traffic disruptions in downtown St. Petersburg can be anticipated between 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.

The parade begins at 1:15 p.m. on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. at Third Ave. S., proceeds north to Central Ave., east along Central to Bayshore Dr. and north to Fifth Ave. NE, disbanding into Vinoy and North Shore Parks.

St. Petersburg Police encourage motorists to pre-plan their travel routes and to use streets west of 16th St. After 12:30 p.m., drivers wanting to cross First Ave. N., Central Ave., and First Ave. S., are advised to use 28th St. or streets further west, or I-275.

City officials remind vendors that a valid occupational license or a one-time special event vending permit is required and all city vendor codes will be enforced. Special event vendor permits for push cart sales are required for sales between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday in the area extending two blocks beyond the parade route. The same vendor rules apply for the Festival of Bands at Tropicana Field on Sunday between 4 and 11 p.m. in the area bounded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. and 20th St. between Sixth Ave. S. and Burlington Ave. N.

Parade organizer Sevell Brown, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, anticipates 130 participating groups including 10 high school marching bands from around the U.S. It is one of seven local events celebrating what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The celebration in St. Petersburg also includes an awards banquet and student essay presentations on Friday, a national festival of bands and an ecumenical service on Sunday, and an awards breakfast and candlelight vigil on Monday.